Post Up: OKC Reigns Supreme

The Celtics traveled to Philly and amassed 34 assists on 42 field goals and took care of business against the Sixers. Philly kept it close, trailing by just five after three, but the veteran Celtics were too much for the young Sixers. Boston opened up the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run and pushed their lead to 14 and held off a late Philly charge to get the dub. The Celtics shot 50 percent for the game and the Sixers are now 0-14 on the season when their opponent shoots 50 percent or better. Avery Bradley led the way with a season-high 22 points, 7 boards and 5 dimes. Paul Periece went for 18, 11 and 7 and KG finished with 18 points and 6 boards. Thaddeus Young finished with 19-point, 10-rebound double-double and Jrue Holiday added 18 points and 10 dimes.

*Side note: Even though I’m from New York and am supposed to dislike anything Boston related, (which is pretty stupid, Boston is a wonderful city…except for the Patriots. Eff the Patriots.) I really enjoy this Celtics team and the way they have battled all season. Hopefully they can keep it up.

Oklahoma City led wire-to-wire, were up by as many as 18 and went on to defeat the visiting Lakers to drop LA back below .500. OKC dropped 71 points in the first half and took a 16-point lead into the break. But the Lakers were brought back by Kobe Bryant, who was slowed by a first quarter elbow injury all game. Kobe finished with 30 points and helped cut the OKC lead to six. A Derek Fisher 3-pointer early in the fourth pushed the Thunder lead back to double-digits but Metta World Peace responded with a three of his own to cut the lead back to nine. World Peace then hit another three with just under seven minutes to go to once again make it a six point contest. But the Lakers suddenly went cold and didn’t hit a shot over the final 6:15 of the game as OKC closed out the contest on a 12-0 run. Russell Westbrook finished with 37 points, 10 boards and 5 dimes while KD dropped 26 points, 8 boards, 5 dimes, 3 steals and 3 blocks.

The Kings played the Nuggets tough in the first half and the game was all knotted up at 50 going into the break. But, the second half belonged to the Nuggets as Denver won their third-straight road game. The Nuggets opened up the third quarter with an 11-2 run and the Kings trailed the rest of the way as Denver scored 70 points over the third and fourth quarters. The Kings did cut the lead down to five but the Nuggets quickly quelled any hopes of a comeback and quickly pushed the lead back to double-digits and held off the Kings down the stretch with an offensive onslaught. Ty Lawson led the Nuggs with 24 points and 7 dimes, Danilo Gallinari chipped in with 23 points and Kenneth Faried scored 19 and grabbed 12 boards. Marcus Thornton hit five three’s off the bench to finish with 32 points.